Bottle-capper



H. L. VAUGHAN.

BOTTLE CAPPR. APPLICATIQN FILED OCT. 20, 1919.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

WMWZZOT:

, UNITED STA HARRY L. Venetian, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE-CAPPER.

Specification of `Iaetters Patent. i Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

` Application filed October 20, 1919. Serial No. 331,920.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY L. Visuel-IAN, a citizen 0f the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Cappers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle cappers, and moreparticularly to devices known as hand cappers used for applying caps ofthe usual crimped variety to bottles.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivebottle capper in which certain novel features of construction areincorporated, calculated to eliminate the breakage of bottles in theoperation of placing a cap thereon and to avoid injury to the operatorresulting from breaking` of the bottle or from any other cause.

he novel features of the invention are hereinafter described and fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a viewin side elevation of the bottle capper;

Fig. 2 is a view in 'vertical section of the bottle capper, and

Fig. 3 is a bottom view in elevation of the capping head.

The bottle capper comprises in general a short handle or body member 1preferably constructed of wood, and a capping head 2 secured to one endof the handle 1. The handle is of a size and shape to permit the same tobe firmly grasped in the hand of the operator. The capping head ispreferably formed or stamped from sheet metal and consists of a socket 3having tapered side walls 4f and a centrally depressed end wall 5, theouter marginal portions of the socket being bent U-shaped to provide anouter annular flange 6 adapted to surround and lit loosely over the endof the body member I. There is 'provided in the end of the body member 1a socket or depression 7 of a shape corresponding to that`of the socketportion 3 of the capping head and slightly larger in diameter, saidhandle socket being adapted to receive the socket portion of the cappingmember. The capping member head is loosely connected to the handle bysuitable connecting members which will permit the endwise movement ofthe capping head relative to the handle, such connecting members beingpreferably in the form of pins 8, 8 embedded in the handle atdiametrically oppositelydisposed points, the projectingV ends of thepins engaging longitudinally disposed slots 9, 9 formed in the annularflange 6 of the capping head. Surrounding the lower end of the handleand preferably secured to the capping head 2 is a circular shaped guardiange l0, the same consisting of a circular sheet of metal provided witha large central opening surrounded by a flange l0 adapted t0 surroundthe capping head adjacent to the upper margin of the annular1 flange 6thereof.l The guard iiange is preferably pressed onto the capping headand thus securely fixed in place, the outwardly eX- tending portions ofthe fiange being sloped or inclined slightly in a direction toward thecap engaging end of the device.

The handle i is further provided vwith an axially arranged. boreextending inwardly from the socket thereof to a point substantiallyVmidway of its length. Inclosed within this bore is a comparativelystiff coil spring l2 adapted to engage at its outer end the capping head2.

In manipulating the bottle capper a cap is placed over the mouth of thebottle and the capping head placed over the cap in such a manner that itrests within the socket 3 thereof. The depressed central portion 5 ofthe socket of the capping head serves to center the cap within the head.Grasping the handle of the capper, the upper end thereof is struck witha hammer or other implement with suficient force to complete the crimping of the cap and securing it around the mouth of the bottle. Innumerous instances the bottle being capped is defective although thedefects are not readily apparent to the eye. In cases, therefore, ofdefective bottles, the striking of the capper with a hammer results inthe breaking of the bottle. By employing a spring acting to yieldinglyengage the capping head, the initial impact of the implement is absorbedby the spring and is not transmitted to the bottle with the attendantdanger of breaking the same. It is evident that it is often difficult tocontrol the force with which the capper is struck and in the event thatthe blow is greater than necessary the spring absorbs the excessiveimpact and prevents the breakage of the bottle, as before indicated. Theadvantage of the guard is readily apparent in that it protects the handof the operator in case the bottle is accidentally broken in the cappingoperation and prevents the hand coming in Contact with the broken piecesof glass as the capper is carried downwardly under the force of the blowdelivered on the handle.

The device herein described and illustrated provides complete protectionto the operator and promotes maximum safety in its use. Obviously thedetails of construd tion may be modified without departing from thespirit of the invention and therefore l do not wish to be limited exceptin so far as my invention is speciically setiforth in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A bottle capper comprising a body member, a capping head mounted atone end of said body member, and comprising a cap engaging socketfitting within a socket formed in the end of said body member, anannular flange surrounding said end oi the body member and a guardflange surroundingand extending radially from said cap engaging socket.

2. A bottle capper comprising a handle, a

capping head fitting over one end ot' said Vhandle and loosely connectedthereto, an impact absorbing member interposed between said handle andcapping head, and a guard flange surrounding the handle adjacent saidcapping head. Y

3. A bottle capper comprising a handle, a capping head comprising a capengaging socket and an annular ange fitting loosely over the end of saidhandle, a pin and slot connection between said handle and flange, animpact absorbing member located between said handle and capping head,and a guard flange fixed to said capping head.

4. A bottle capper comprising a bedy member, a capping head mounted atone end of said body member and including acapengaging socket fittingwithin a socket formed in said body member and having a centrallydepressed end wall, an annular ange surrounding the end of said bodymember, and a laterally extending guard flange mounted on said annularflange.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of October,A. D.,

HARRY L. VAUGHAN.

